Deon Wall
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Deon Wall, 75, of Du Quoin, departed this life at 5:25 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011 at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born in West Frankfort, Ill. on May 25, 1936 to Theodore and Eva (Maddox) Wall.
He married Brenda Fulkerson on April 2, 1966 and this union was blessed with two children - Jennifer and Robert.
He married Tammy Emery on June 18, 1990 at Chester, Ill. and they enjoyed more than 21 happy years together.
Deon is survived by his loving wife - Tammy Wall of Du Quoin, one daughter - Jennifer Wall (Kelly Melton) of Du Quoin, one son - Robert Wall of San Diego, Calif., one stepson - Jeffrey Emery (Tammy) of Du Quoin, three grandchildren - Wyatt and Waylon Melton and Anthony Emery, all of Du Quoin, one brother - Tom Wall (Dorothy) of Chandler, Ariz., along with a niece, nephews and many cousins. Deon was so proud of his children and grandchildren for their accomplishments. He had a special bond with his cousin Ron and they loved to get together to play guitars.
Deon was preceded in death by his parents.
Deon served two years in the United States Army from 1958 to 1960. He was stationed in Fort Sill, Okla. and in Korea. While in Korea, he enjoyed a vacation in Japan. Following his military service, he was employed at Caterpillar in Peoria, Ill. He was Quality Control Manager for Turco Manufacturing in Du Quoin before going to work at Old Ben Coal #21 in Sesser, Ill.
Deon loved playing guitars and attending bluegrass festivals. He and Tammy frequented Nashville, Tenn. to visit Gruhn's guitar shop and eat at the Loveless Cafe. He enjoyed the outdoors, his hobbies included hiking, bike riding, bird watching, camping and canoeing. He especially enjoyed canoeing the Current and Jacks Fork rivers in Missouri. He and his wife Tammy liked to stay at Pere Marquette Lodge to eagle watch in the winter. He loved to travel and they went on so many memorable vacations and weekend getaways together. The most treasured vacations they took were with their best friends Bobby and Janie Cook and Jim and DeAnna Alvis.
Deon believed in being a good steward of the earth and he contributed to many conservation societies which included: American Rivers, Defenders of Wildlife, World Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy and National Geographic Society.
Deon was a soft spoken, kind, honest, and gentle man and he will be greatly missed forever by his wife, family and friends.
Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 at the First United Pentecostal Church in Du Quoin with Rev. Dan McKinnies, Rev. C.L. McKinnies, and Rev. Jeff Emery officiating.
Friends called from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Friday.
Burial was in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.